Container

ABSTRACT

A container (100) for scoopable material including a container body (102) defining a reservoir to hold the scoopable material, a collar (106) attached to the container body, a lid (108) hingedly attached to the collar, and a leveler (114) extending from the underside of the lid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/302,327, filed Mar. 2, 2016, the entirecontents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention related to the field of packaging, and more particularly,packaging for scoopable material, such as for example, granulated orpowdered products.

BACKGROUND

Granular or powdered products, such as, for purposes of example withoutlimitation, infant formula, flour, coffee, sugar, may be packaged incontainers. Scoops are often provided within the container fordispensing the product from the container. When dispensing the product,users may have concerns regarding contaminating the contents of thecontainer, soiling their hands with the container contents, anddispensing the correct amount of the granular or powdered product.Therefore, it is advantageous for the container to allow a user accessto the measuring scoop without contamination of the contents and toensure a user to can accurately measure the amount of product to bedispensed.

SUMMARY

The present application describes a container for scoopable material. Inone exemplary embodiment, the container for scoopable material includesa container body defining a reservoir to hold the scoopable material, acollar attached to the container body, and a lid hingedly attached tothe collar. The lid includes a leveler extending from the underside ofthe lid to define a leveling edge for leveling a scoop of scoopablematerial. In one exemplary embodiment, the leveling edge is an elongatedstraight edge.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description made with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the general inventive concepts will becomeapparent from the following detailed description made with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side section view of an exemplary embodiment of a container;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a collar and lid assembly and a scoop ofthe container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the lid assembly and the scoop of the containerof FIG. 1 showing the top end of the collar and the underside of the lidwith the scoop installed;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the collar and lid assembly and the scoop ofthe container of FIG. 1 illustrating use of a leveler;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a container;

FIG. 6 is a side section view of the container of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a side section view of the collar and lid assembly and thescoop of the container of FIG. 5 illustrating use of a leveler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This Detailed Description merely describes exemplary embodiments inaccordance with the general inventive concepts and is not intended tolimit the scope of the invention or the claims in any way. Indeed, theinvention as described by the claims is broader than and unlimited bythe exemplary embodiments set forth herein, and the terms used in theclaims have their full ordinary meaning.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a container100 for scoopable material. In the illustrated embodiment, the container100 includes a body 102 defining a reservoir 104 configured to holdcontents to be dispensed, a collar 106 affixed to a top end of thereservoir 104, and a lid 108 hingedly engaged with the collar 106 andmoveable between an open position (as shown in FIG. 1) wherein thecontents of the container 100 can be dispensed from the reservoir 104and a closed position wherein the lid 108 is resealed to the collar 106.The lid 104 includes a scoop holder 110 for holding and storing a scoop112 (FIG. 2) and a leveler 114 for leveling the contents removed by thescoop 112. The container 100 may also include a removable, substantiallymoisture-impervious, oxygen-impervious seal (not shown) between the lid108 and the reservoir 104.

The container 100 may be constructed from any suitable material. In oneembodiment, the container 100 is constructed from a polymeric material,such as, for example, polypropylene and/or high-density polyethylene.

The body 102 may be configured in a variety of ways. Although the body102 of the exemplary embodiment of the container 100 is described andillustrated to be substantially cylindrical, the present invention issusceptible for use with all shapes and sizes of containers includingcuboid, obloid, rectilinear, and other shapes. Furthermore, each of theoptional and preferred embodiments of the invention contemplateinterchangeability with all of the various features, components,modifications, and variations illustrated throughout the writtendescription and pictorial illustrations.

In the illustrated embodiment, the body 102 is substantially cylindricalwith a cylindrical side wall 122 having an inner surface 124 and anouter surface 125 opposed to and generally parallel to the inner surface124. The body 102 includes a closed bottom end 126 and an open upper end128 having an upper circumferential edge 130. The upper end 128 of thebody 102 has an outer diameter D₁.

The collar 106 and the lid 108 may be configured in a variety of ways.The collar 106 and the lid 108 may be formed integrally with thecylindrical side wall 122, may be formed as an integral collar and lidassembly and/or combination, and may also be provided as a separatecollar 106 and a separate lid 108 that can be joined with a hinge oranother type of pivotally and/or removable device or connection to oneor more portions of the sidewall 122. The collar 106 and lid 108arrangements can be attached and assembled to the container 100 in avariety of ways including clips, friction-fit configurations, threadedconnection, snap-on arrangements and other equally desirable andoptional components and methods.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the collar106 and the lid 108 are formed as an assembly that attaches to the upperend 128 of the body 102. The collar 106 is connected to the lid 108 by ahinge 132 that allows the lid 108 to pivot relative to the collar 106about a hinge axis A. The collar 106 is generally ring-shaped with acylindrical side wall 134 having an inner surface 136 and an outersurface 138 opposed to and generally parallel to the inner surface 136.The collar 106 has an open lower end 140 having a lower circumferentialedge 142 and an open upper end 144 having an upper circumferential edge146.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end 140 may be configured to be attachedto the upper end 128 of the body 102. In the illustrated embodiment, thelower end 140 has an inner diameter D₂ and the upper end 144 has aninner diameter D₃ that is less than the inner diameter D₂ of the lowerend 140. A shoulder 148 connects the lower end 140 to the upper end 144.

The lower end 140 may be adapted to receive the upper end 128 of thebody 102. For example, the inner diameter D₂ of the lower end 140 may beslightly larger than the outer diameter D₁ of the upper end 128 of thebody 102 such that the lower end 140 may slide over top of the upper end128. In one embodiment, the inner diameter D₂ of the lower end 140 andthe outer diameter D₁ of the upper end 128 are sized to create afriction fit between the lower end 140 and the upper end 128. In theillustrated embodiment, the upper circumferential edge 130 of the upperend 128 engages the shoulder 148 of the collar 106 when the collar 106is properly seated onto the upper end 128.

The lid 108 is generally cylindrical with a cylindrical side wall 150having an inner surface 152 and an outer surface 154 opposite of andgenerally parallel to the inner surface 152. The lid 108 has an openlower end 156 having a lower circumferential edge 158 and an closedupper end 160 having a top wall 162 with an inner surface 164 and anouter surface 166. The lid 108 has an inner diameter D₄.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the hinge 132 thatconnects the lid 108 to the collar 106, and allows the lid 108 to pivotrelative to the collar 106, is a living hinge. A living hinge is a thinflexible web of material that joins two rigid bodies together. In thiscase, the living hinge 132 connects the lid 108 and the collar 106 tokeep them together and allow the lid 108 to be opened and closed.

The material used to make a living hinge is preferably a very flexiblepolymeric material, such as, for example, polypropylene and/orpolyethylene. Living hinges can be flexed numerous times withoutfailure.

In other embodiments, however, the lid 108 may be connected to thecollar 106 by a conventional mechanical hinge. Conventional mechanicalhinges include, but are not limited to, hinge assemblies comprising afirst panel having two or more sockets mounted on an edge thereof and asecond panel having two or more pins mounted on an edge thereof, theaforementioned pins mating with the aforementioned sockets to join theedge of the first panel to the edge of the second panel, the pins andthe sockets allowing rotation of the first panel about the second panel.

Referring to FIG. 2, the lid 108 and the collar 106 may have acooperating container-locking feature 180 to securely retain the lid 108in the closed position. The container-locking feature 180 may beconfigured in a variety of ways. In the illustrated embodiment, thecontainer-locking feature includes a latch 182 on the lid 108 and akeeper 184 on the collar 106. The latch 182 is positioned on orextending from the outer surface 154 adjacent the open lower end 156 ofthe lid 108. The keeper 184 is positioned on the outer surface 138 ofthe open upper end 144 of the collar 106. In the closed position, thelatch 182 grips the keeper 184 to hold the lid 108 in the closedposition. The latch 182 can be manipulated, such as for example, bybending outward, to disengage the keeper 184 and allow the lid 108 to beopened.

In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop holder 110 is positioned on theinner surface 164 of the top wall 162 of the lid 108. The scoop holder112 may be configured in a variety of ways. Any structure capable ofcooperating with the scoop 112 to hold the scoop in place when not inuse may be used. For example, the scoop holder 112 may be configuredsimilar to the scoop holder embodiments disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.8,857,645 to Perry, et al., the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference. The scoop 112 may also be configuredin a variety of ways. For example, the shape and size of the bowl andhandle may vary in different embodiments of the scoop. Any configurationsuitable for dispensing the contents of the container 100 in appropriatequantities may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop 112includes a bowl 200 and a handle 202. Referring to FIG. 4, the bowl 200is generally cylindrical having a cylindrical side wall 204 with anouter surface 206. The bowl 200 includes a closed bottom end 208 and anopen upper end 210 having an upper circumferential edge 212. The bowl200 has an outer diameter D₅. The handle 202 is generally elongated andadapted to be gripped by a user of the scoop 112. The handle 202 extendsoutward from the outer surface 206 of the bowl 200 adjacent the openupper end 210. The scoop 112 has a total length L_(S) (FIG. 3) that isless than the inner diameter D₄ (FIG. 4) of the lid 108 such that thescoop 112 fits inside the cylindrical sidewall 150 (i.e., betweenopposing inner surfaces 152 of the sidewall 150).

In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop holder 110 comprises a firstbracket 220 and a second bracket 222 separated from the first bracket220 by an opening 224. The scoop holder 110 is capable of retaining ascoop 112 in such a position so as to be separated from the contents inthe container 100.

The scoop 112 can be inserted into the scoop holder 110 by sliding thehandle 202 into the opening 224 between the first bracket 220 and thesecond bracket 222. When inserted into the scoop holder 110, the scoop112 is retained by the first bracket 220 and the second bracket 222 bymeans of projections 225 (FIG. 4) on the brackets 220, 222 that engagethe handle 202. When held by the scoop holder 110, the scoop 112 ispositioned internally from the cylindrical side wall 150 of the lid 108.

In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop leveler 114 is positioned onthe inner surface 164 of the top wall 162 of the lid 108. The scoopleveler 114 is positioned as to not interfere with the scoop holder 110or with access to the scoop by a user. The scoop leveler 114 may beconfigured in a variety of ways. For example, the size, shape, andlocation of the scoop leveler 114 on the lid may differ in differentembodiments. Any suitable size, shape, and location of the scoop leveler114 may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop leveler 114includes a projection 230 extending downward from the inner surface 164(underside) of the lid 108 and defining a leveling edge 232 againstwhich the upper circumferential edge 212 of the bowl 200 may be rubbedor scrapped across to level the scoop 112. In the illustratedembodiment, the projection 230 extends generally perpendicular to theinner surface 164. In other embodiments, however, the projection 230 mayextend at an angle other than 90 degrees from the inner surface 164.

The projection 230 is relatively elongated and thin and defines aleveling edge 232 that is a relatively elongated, continuous straightedge. In other embodiments, however, the leveling edge 232 used to levelthe scoop 112 may be other than straight, such as for example, may becurved. In the illustrated embodiment, the leveling edge 232 extendsparallel to the hinge axis A. In other embodiments, however, theleveling edge 232 may extend traverse to the hinge axis A. Theprojection 230 includes a first side edge 234 and a second side edge 236spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first side edge 234. Theleveling edge 232 is generally perpendicular to and extends between thefirst side edge 234 and the second side edge 236. The leveling edge 232has a length L_(E) (FIG. 3).

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the leveler 114 is positionedinternally and separate from the cylindrical sidewall 150 of the lid108. In one exemplary embodiment, the first side edge 234 and a secondside edge 236 are spaced apart from the cylindrical side wall 150. Thus,the entire length L_(E) of the leveling edge 232 is less than the innerdiameter D₄ of the lid 108. In other embodiments, however, one or bothof the first side edge 234 and a second side edge 236 may be contiguouswith the cylindrical side wall 150.

In the illustrated embodiment, the length L_(E) of the leveling edge 232is longer than the outer diameter D₅ of the bowl 200 of the scoop 112.Thus, the entire bowl 200 of the scoop 112 may be leveled in a singlepass across the leveling edge 232.

To level a scoop 112 using the leveler 114, a scoop 112 overfilled witha scoopable material may be brought into contact with the leveling edge232 and the upper circumferential edge 212 of the bowl 200 may be rubbedor scraped across the leveling edge 232. In doing so, the excessscoopable material from the scoop 112 (i.e., material that is within thebowl 200) is pushed from the scoop into an area or cavity between theleveler 114 and the top wall 162 of the lid 108 and, as the scoopcontinues to move across the leveling edge 232, falls by gravity backinto the container 100.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of acontainer 600 for scoopable material. The container 600 is may besimilar to the container 100 of FIG. 1 but is illustrated having acuboid shape rather than a cylindrical shape. The container 600, may beconfigured similar to or the same as the containers disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 8,857,645 to Perry, et al., the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference, except the container 600 includes aleveler 614 for leveling the contents removed from the container.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the illustrated embodiment, the container600 includes a body 602 defining a reservoir 604 configured to holdscoopable material, a collar 606 affixed to a top end of the reservoir604 and a lid 608 hingedly engaged with the collar 606 and moveablebetween an open position (as shown in FIG. 5) wherein the contents ofthe container 600 can be dispensed from the reservoir 604 and a closedposition wherein the lid 608 is resealed to the collar 606. The lid 604includes a scoop holder 610 for holding and storing a scoop 612 and aleveler 614 for leveling the material removed by the scoop 612. Thecontainer 600 may also include a removable, substantiallymoisture-impervious, oxygen-impervious seal (not shown) between the lid608 and the reservoir 604.

The container 600 may be constructed from any suitable material. In oneembodiment, the container 600 is constructed from a polymeric material,such as, for example, polypropylene and/or high-density polyethylene.

The body 602 may be configured in a variety of ways. Although the body602 of the exemplary embodiment of the container 600 is described andillustrated to be substantially cuboid, the present invention issusceptible for use with all shapes and sizes of containers includingcylindrical, obloid, rectilinear, and other shapes, and for use withcontainers adapted for fluids as well as for the powdered materialsand/or product described most often herein. Furthermore, each of theoptional and preferred embodiments of the invention contemplateinterchangeability with all of the various features, components,modifications, and variations illustrated throughout the writtendescription and pictorial illustrations.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the illustrated embodiment, the body 602 issubstantially cuboid and includes a closed bottom end 620 having abottom wall 622 and an open upper end 624 having an upper edge 626. Thebody 602 includes a front wall 628 having an inner surface 630 and anouter surface 632, a rear wall 634 having an inner surface 636 and anouter surface 638, a first side wall 640 (FIG. 5) extending between thefront wall and the rear wall and including an inner surface (not shown)and an outer surface (not shown), and a second side wall (not shown)extending between the front wall and the rear wall and including aninner surface (not shown) and an outer surface (not shown). The body 602has a width W_(B) (not shown) and a length L_(B).

The collar 606 and lid 608 may be configured in a variety of ways. Thecollar 606 and lid 608 may be formed integrally with walls of thecontainer 600, may be formed as an integral collar and lid assemblyand/or combination, and may also be provided as a separate collar 606and a separate lid 608 that can be joined with a hinge or another typeof pivotally and/or removable device or connection to one or more of thewall. The collar 606 and lid 608 arrangements can be attached andassembled to the inventive container 600 in a variety of ways includingclips, friction-fit configurations, threaded connection, snap-onarrangements and other equally desirable and optional components andmethods.

In the illustrated embodiment, the collar 606 and the lid 608 are formedas an assembly that attaches to the upper end 624 of the body 602. Thecollar 606 is connected to the lid 608 by a hinge 654 that allows thelid 608 to pivot relative to the collar 606 about a hinge axis A(extending out of the page with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7). The collar606 has a generally rectangular cross section that generally matches theshape of the upper end 624 of the body 602. The collar 606 has a frontwall 656, a rear wall, a first side wall 668 (FIG. 5) extending betweenthe front wall and the rear wall and a second side wall (not shown)extending between the front wall and the rear wall.

The collar 606 has an open lower end 680 having a lower edge 682 (FIG.7) and an open upper end 684 having an upper edge 686. The lower end 680may be configured to be attached to the upper end 624 of the body 602 ina similar manner as the collar 106 and body 102 of the container of FIG.1.

The lid 608 has a generally rectangular cross section the generallymatches the rectangular cross-section of the collar 606. The lid 608 hasa front wall 690 having an inner surface 692 and an outer surface 694, arear wall 696 having an inner surface 698 and an outer surface 700, afirst side wall 702 extending between the front wall and the rear walland including an inner surface 704 and an outer surface (not shown), anda second side wall 708 (FIG. 5) extending between the front wall and therear wall and including an inner surface 710 and an outer surface 712.

The lid 608 has an open lower end 714 having a lower edge 716 and aclosed upper end 718 having a top wall 720 with an inner surface 722 andan outer surface 724. The lid 608 has a width W_(L) (not shown) and alength L_(L).

Referring to FIG. 7, the lid 608 and the collar 606 may have acooperating container-locking feature 730 to securely retain the lid 608in the closed position. The container-locking feature 730 may beconfigured similar to the container-locking feature 180 of the container100 of FIG. 1. For example, the container-locking feature 730 may alatch 732 on the lid 608 that engages a keeper 734 on the collar 606such that the latch 732 grips the keeper 734 to hold the lid 608 in theclosed position.

The scoop 612 may be configured similar to the scoop 112 of thecontainer 100 of FIG. 1. For example, the scoop 612 may include a bowl740 and a handle 742. The bowl 740 has an outer diameter D₅, an openupper end 743 having an upper circumferential edge 744, and a closedbottom end 745. The scoop 612 has a total length L_(S) that is less thanat least one of the L_(L) or W_(L) of the lid 608 such that the scoop612 fits inside the sidewalls 690, 696, 702, 708 of the lid 608.

In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop holder 610 is configuredsimilar to the scope holder 110 of the container 100 of FIG. 1. Inparticular, in the illustrated embodiment, the scoop holder 610 ispositioned on the inner surface 722 of the top wall 720 of the lid 608.The scoop holder 610 may include a first bracket 746 and a secondbracket 748 separated from the first bracket 746 by an opening 749. Thescoop 612 can be inserted into the scoop holder 610 by sliding thehandle 742 into the opening 749 between the first bracket 746 and thesecond bracket 748. When inserted into the scoop holder 610, the scoop612 is retained by the first bracket 746 and the second bracket 748.When held by the scoop holder 610, the scoop 612 is positionedinternally from the side walls 690, 696, 702, 708 of the lid 608.

In other embodiments, however, the scoop holder 610 may be configured,for example, similar to the scoop holder disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.8,857,645 to Perry, et al. where the first bracket 746 and the secondbracket 748 are configured to engage the bowl 740 of the scoop 612.

The illustrated embodiment, the scoop leveler 614 is positioned on theinner surface 722 of the top wall 720 of the lid 608. The scoop leveler614 is positioned as to not interfere with the scoop holder 610 oraccess to the scoop by a user. The scoop leveler 614 may be configuredin a variety of ways. For example, the size, shape, and location of theleveler on the lid may differ in different embodiments. Any suitablesize, shape, and location may be used. In the illustrated embodiment,the scoop leveler 614 includes a projection 750 extending downward fromthe inner surface 722 of the top wall 720 of the lid 608. The projection750 defines a leveling edge 752 against which the upper circumferentialedge 744 of the bowl 740 may be rubbed or scrapped across to level thescoop 612. In the illustrated embodiment, the projection 750 extendsgenerally perpendicular to the inner surface 722. In other embodiments,however, the projection 750 may at an angle other than 90 degrees fromthe inner surface 722.

The projection 750 is relatively elongated and thin and defines aleveling edge 752 that is a relatively elongated, continuous straightedge. In other embodiments, however, the leveling edge 752 may be otherthan straight, such as for example, may be curved. In the illustratedembodiment, the leveling edge 752 extends parallel to the hinge axis A.In other embodiments, however, the leveling edge 752 may extend traverseto the hinge axis A. The projection 750 includes a first side edge 754and a second side edge 756 spaced apart from and generally parallel tothe first side edge 754. The leveling edge 752 is generallyperpendicular to and extends between the first side edge 754 and thesecond side edge 756. The leveling edge 752 has a length L_(E).

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the leveler 614 is positionedinternally and separate from the sidewall 690, 696, 702, 708 of the lid608. In one exemplary embodiment, the first side edge 754 and a secondside edge 756 are spaced apart from the sidewalls 690, 696, 702, 708 ofthe lid 608. Thus, the entire length L_(E) of the leveling edge 752 ofthe leveler 614 is less than the distance between two opposing sidewalls690, 696, 702, 708 of the lid 608. In other embodiments, however, one orboth of the first side edge 754 and a second side edge 756 may becontiguous with one or more sidewalls 690, 696, 702, 708 of the lid 608.

In the illustrated embodiment, the length L_(E) of the leveling edge 752is longer than the diameter D₆ of the bowl 740 of the scoop 612. Thus,the entire bowl 740 of the scoop 612 may be leveled in a single passacross the leveling edge 752.

To level a scoop 612 using the leveler 614, a scoop 612 that isoverfilled with a scoopable material may be brought into contact withthe leveling edge 752 and the upper circumferential edge 744 of the bowl740 may be rubbed or scrapped across the leveling edge 752. In doing so,the excess scoopable material from the scoop (i.e., material not in thebowl) is pushed from the scoop 612 into an area or cavity between theleveler 614 and the top wall 720 of the lid 608 and, as the scoop 612continues to move across the leveling edge 752, falls by gravity backinto the container 600.

While various inventive aspects, concepts, and features of the generalinventive concepts are described and illustrated herein in the contextof various exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts, andfeatures may be used in many alternative embodiments, eitherindividually or in various combinations thereof. Unless expresslyexcluded herein all such combinations are intended to be within thescope of the general inventive concepts. Still further, while variousalternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts, andfeatures of the inventions (such as alternative materials, structures,configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as toform, fit and function, and so on) may be described herein, suchdescriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list ofavailable alternative embodiments, whether presently known or laterdeveloped. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of theinventive aspects, concepts, or features into additional embodiments anduses within the scope of the general inventive concepts even if suchembodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, eventhough some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may bedescribed herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, suchdescription is not intended to suggest that such feature is required ornecessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary orrepresentative values and ranges may be included to assist inunderstanding the present disclosure; however, such values and rangesare not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to becritical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, whilevarious aspects, features, and concepts may be expressly identifiedherein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, suchidentification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may beinventive aspects, concepts, and features that are fully describedherein without being expressly identified as such or as part of aspecific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes arenot limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases,nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed asrequired or necessary unless expressly so stated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for scoopable material, the containercomprising: a container body defining a reservoir to hold the scoopablematerial; a collar attached to the container body; and a lid hingedlyattached to the collar, the lid having a leveler extending from theunderside of the lid; wherein the leveler defines an elongated straightedge.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the leveler is positionedinternally from an outside edge of the lid.
 3. The container of claim 1,wherein an entire length of the elongated straight edge isnon-contiguous with an outer edge of the lid.
 4. The container of claim1, wherein an entire length of the elongated straight edge of theleveler is less than a distance from a first outer edge of the lid to asecond outer edge of the lid.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein theelongated straight edge does not extend from a first outer edge of thelid to a second outer edge of the lid.
 6. The container of claim 1,further comprising a scoop.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein alength of the elongated straight edge of the leveler is longer than adiameter of the scoop.
 8. The container of claim 6, wherein a scoopoverfilled with a scoopable powder may be leveled off by manuallyscrapping a top edge of the scoop across the elongated straight edge. 9.The container of claim 8, wherein the leveler defines a cavity intowhich excess scoopable material may migrate from the scoop when thescoop is rubbed against the leveler.
 10. The container of claim 8,wherein excess scoopable material removed from the scoop when the scoopis rubbed against the leveler falls by gravity within the container. 11.The container of claim 6, wherein the scoop is removably attached to theunderside of the lid in an initial position.
 12. The container of claim1, wherein the leveler extends generally perpendicular to the undersideof the lid.
 13. The container of claim 1, wherein the base iscylindrical or obloid.
 14. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid ispivotable relative to the collar about a hinge axis, and wherein theelongated straight edge extends parallel to the hinge axis.
 15. A coverfor attachment to a container of scoopable material, the covercomprising: a collar; and a lid hingedly attached to the collar, the lidhaving a leveler extending from the underside of the lid; wherein theleveler defines an elongated straight edge.
 16. The cover of claim 15,wherein the leveler extends generally perpendicular to the underside ofthe lid.
 17. The cover of claim 15, wherein the leveler wherein anentire length of the elongated straight edge is non-contiguous with anouter edge of the lid.